So, we've downloaded the World Cup calendar into Outlook from the BBC website, we've thumbed our Guardian guide to the tournament, we've entered the sweepstake and chosen our fantasy league team.

Brockley Central is almost ready for the start of South Africa 2010.

The only remaining issue is which pub we should choose to watch England v the USA on Saturday night. We raised the issue before and it seems to boil down to two venues - the Wickham Arms or The Talbot. Both will be doing special screenings. Both sell beer.

What matters to us is which will have the best atmosphere. So we've created a poll. Tell us which of the two you'll be going to and we will be guided by you.

I will only frequent the Wickham if in time honoured world cup tradition:-

At least 3 references to how the shadows on the pitch are just like 1966The potential for punch up when very drunk man decides to support Englands opponents- vociferouslyFat Les Vindaloo played at ear splitting volume during every commercial break

Probably making a virtue of necessity - they don't have a large screen TV. Which for some regular clientele is a definite plus. You might miss out on big occasions (although every other watering hole in the vicinity is competing) but you gain with a loyal long-term client base.

But as with the music everywhere that is uncomfortably loud for some (and which means that it it is virtually impossible for us to find anywhere to eat out except a Weatherspoons, which have a policy against it) you have a majority imposing their taste on everyone.

I'm glad the Telegraph are holding out and will make a point of going there more often because of it.

@ Tamsin 'it it is virtually impossible for us to find anywhere to eat out except a Weatherspoons' What about Mr Lawrence, Jam Circus or one of the many restaurants in the Brockley area which will probably serve better food than you'd get in a pub. There are many opportunities to escape the football without needing to grumble about general football-mania.

In talking about no-where to eat out I was not referring to football but to piped music. My other half is cursed with excellent lower register hearing (while I can hear a slight rumble from the TV next door he can identify the programme!). Most eating places tend to go for pop in the background rather than classical and if what you get when you take the plunge and sit down is livable with so often the next track has that impossible bass beat.

The Orchard has no music unless there is an event and I don't recall the Toads Mouth having any music. Le Querce? Not heard any music and La Lanterna didn't used to have any music in its previous guise. Do not recall any at Smiles Cafe, Long Time certainly has none. Babur? Can't remember. Chais Garden has soft oriental music I think but you can sit in the garden and hear none...

Blimey, your husband may have good hearing but I fear you are half cursed with a unique ability to find fault where there is none.

Agreed - and I did qualify the "impossible". And locally one obviously gets to know what's possible. My main grouch is the difficulty in trogging around an unfamiliar town in the early evening and, not being in the know, finding venue after venue ruled out because of the level and type of background music.

Urban fox hunting on skateboards....! Sorts out the baby eating fox menace, gives the kids something to do and allows HH to contemplate life without the noise of wheels trundling on concrete echoing around his skull.

This is where this blog wins, finding solutions that the whole community can unite around. Truley camerons Big Society in action.

I think that a lot of The Talbots natural constituency would vote for the Wickham, so that the crowds headed in that direction and meant we could get to the bar for our beer and olives, We're a bit smart like that.

The Wickham has a barbecue all day and live music from 10 with Tony Lording and friends playing country blues and folk music. Remember musicians are for life not just the Brockley Max!www.thewickhamarms.com

Yeah, so I was at my local last night watching the footie spotted a few of the usual suspects. Classic London social skills deficit on display. Saying hello to someone you have spoken to in past is not going to cause the earth to collapse or worse necessitate a conversation.

Tried to watch a game at the Talbot the other night, but they turned the dinky screen around so the people at the other side of the room could get a better view, meaning that we didn't have a view at all. Gave up and tried the Wickham instead, where the screen was visible but the smell off-putting. Ended up at Wetherspoons, which is a damning indictment in itself - AND the quiz machine broke and swallowed a whole 50p of our hard-earned.

Definitely heading into the big bad city for today's England game - Brockley just ain't cutting it this time round, I'm afraid.